Jets release Kahlil Bell, fueling more Braylon Edwards speculation

Posted by Josh Alper on December 11, 2012, 12:10 PM EST

AP

The chances of Braylon Edwards returning to the Jets are looking a little better Tuesday morning.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported and several Jets beat writers have confirmed that the team has released veteran running back Kahlil Bell. A league source tells Schefter that the team plans to add a wide receiver with the open roster spot.

It doesn’t take a Ph.D in dot connecting to see Edwards as a likely choice for that spot. He scored 11 touchdowns for them in 2009 and 2010 and the Jets were in need of help at receiver even before Stephen Hill went down with a knee injury on Sunday against the Jaguars. That need, the Jets’ sudden arrival in the playoff picture and Edwards’ past success catching balls thrown by Mark Sanchez could be enough to outweigh Edwards calling the Jets decision-makers “idiots” especially since Edwards later apologized for the jab.

We should know whether the Jets claimed Edwards off of waivers at some point on Tuesday afternoon.

Bell played three games for the Jets, catching one pass for two yards. He fumbled after making that catch and the Cardinals recovered, although the Jets went on to win that game 7-6 to help push them to a place where it would make sense to take a shot on Edwards for the final three games.

I get that everyone hates the Jets, and I can certainly understand why, but this is a smart move. The Jets have the 4th easiest schedule left, have a strong chance at finishing 9-7 even though they play like a 2-14 team, and currently the teams they need to lose, have lost (Bengals, Steelers, Texans).

Receivers are the weakest position on the team, and Edwards had great chemistry with Sanchez. Edwards dropped a lot of passes with the Browns, but as a Jets fan who has watched all of his games as a Jet, he had pretty good hands while in a Jet uniform.